Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-01-27
SAxONY'S CAPITOL.
The Principal Foreign Population ana
Mercantile Product of Dresden.

-
Mercantile Product of Dresden.
Dresden is one of the cities greatly
affected by the English, who have a
somewhat remarkable habit of consider
ing their own country, their own eli
mate and their own society, the most
perfect in the world, and yet of passing
their line at distance from the multi
piled advantages. They flock to Brus-
sels. They do their best to fill the
empty hotels of Ostend in the winter,
though it would be hard to imagine 3
bleaker place than this wind and storm
swept coast during the cold season.
The sporting instinct takes them 10 Nice
and Mentone, and reasons of health to
different points of the Riv era. In the
South of Europe the English are
usually merely birds of pas
sage, though there are some
who pass so many successful seasons
and so large part of each here that
they may be almost considered perma-
nent residents. Of these Cannes, first
made known to the English world by
Lord Brougham, has goodly number.
Switzerland knows the English well, as
do also numerous charming localities
along the northern and western coast of
France. They might find many worse
places of permanent abode in Europe
than Dresden, which has not disagree
able climate in the summer, literary
and artistic atmosphere, and cheap liv-
ing, which is especially with continen-
tai British residents,a a desideratum. For
this last object English families with a
small fixed income exile themselves Of
ten to undesirable places. The advan-
tages, besides the cheap living, are
usually the means of education which
includes the easy and natural acquisi-
ton of the language of the country and
perhaps of other tongues, a matter oi
considerable Importance tofamilies with
numerous younger members.
Dresden is often called the city of
rococo, a reputation now due principal
ly to its somewhat gaudy porcelain,
which has, however, somewhat i'm
proved in taste since its mention one
hundred and seventy-fve years ago
The era called rococo preceded and in
cluded this date, and the "Dresder
china" so called, has never entirely re-
covered from its influence. In fact, il
seems to be doing what it can to per.
petuate it, for in looking in at the shop
windows and remarking the great va
riety of articles of porcelain which ar,
exposed for sale one is constantly re
minded of the old palaces in France ant
the queer taste exhibited in those bull
by the great Frederic at Potsdam. Thi:
is not to say that there are not beautiful
and tasteful articles in Dresden ch ma tC
be found. 1t would be sad commen
tary on a remarkable period of art anC
on an elegant and reputable industry
to say or to be able to prove otherwise
But taste in Saxony is one thing anC
taste in France is another. The idea o
grace of form among the French ap
proaches more nearly to the perfectnes'
of the antique than that of any Other
nation of modern times, and if piec,
of china does not satisfy this ideal, a
the same time uniting to the two requi
sites of delicate color and elegant dec
Grafton, it is nothing. So the world il
matters of small decoration still incline
to faience that comes from the various
manufactures of France. How lon:
will the French have this monopoly o
tastep Not forever, certainly. Blu
! when portion of this prestige passe
from them it will not be to the Nortl
Germans, whose distinguishing virtue
J of honesty, frankness and depth an,
solidity of character torn rather heav
groundwork for those graces of litera
: ture and art which are so essential +
the free and pleasurable condition Q
N odern existence.-Cor. Safs Franci:c
. Chroatcle.